Jimmy Kimmel stirs up controversy on Christmas Day in the UK

Jimmy Kimmel sparked controversy on Christmas Day after using a high-profile holiday broadcast to launch a scathing criticism of Donald Trump.

The late-night host delivered Channel 4’s alternative Christmas message to British viewers, turning what is usually a thought-provoking speech into a politically charged moment.

Kimmel’s remarks quickly sparked backlash and debate on both sides of the Atlantic, reigniting his long-running feud with the president and sparking intense reactions on social media.

Kimmel was chosen to broadcast Channel 4’s Alternative Christmas Message, an annual show known for its provocative voices and barbed commentary.

Speaking to British viewers, the comedian immediately took a serious tone, saying “tyranny is on the rise” in the United States.

According to the Daily Mail, he told the audience that the US president wanted to silence him because he refused to show the kind of admiration Trump demands.

During his speech, Kimmel accused Trump of “figuratively and literally tearing down the structures of our democracy.”

He highlighted what he described as repeated attacks on institutions ranging from the free press to science, medicine and judicial independence.

Kimmel also referenced the president’s controversial demolition of the White House East Wing to build a new ballroom, portraying it as a symbol of terrible democratic erosion.

Jimmy Kimmel also took advantage of the Christmas show to discuss his recent suspension from television following controversial comments made after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Speaking to the British public, he described a “Christmas miracle” that occurred in September when millions of people, including those who disliked his show, defended his right to free speech.

“We won, the president lost, and now I’m back on the air every night giving the most powerful politician in the world a fair and well-deserved crap,” Kimmel said, relying on British slang throughout the speech.

He warned that silencing critics is not limited to authoritarian states like Russia or North Korea, suggesting it can happen in democracies if nothing is done about it.

Although he acknowledged the long history between the US and UK, the 58-year-old urged British viewers not to give up on America, describing the country as “going through a bit of a wobble at the moment” before adding: “We’re in a real mess.”

Reactions to Kimmel’s Christmas speech quickly divided along political lines.

Critics argued that much of the speech amounted to repeated attacks on Trump rather than comedy.

One commenter said: “My God, comedy is easy when you’re telling the same joke every four minutes. »

Others have accused Channel 4 of hypocrisy, pointing to the recent arrest of comedian Graham Linehan over anti-trans jokes as evidence of a double standard.

Some viewers took issue with Kimmel’s warnings about tyranny, calling them ironic given debates in the United Kingdom over free speech.

“I find it ironic that Jimmy Kimmel gave a speech about ‘tyranny’ in the UK,” one critic wrote, referring to the arrests on social media.

Another added that the host was giving a talk in a country where he said people are jailed for speaking online.

The Christmas speech was just the latest chapter in the long-running feud between Jimmy Kimmel and Trump.

Throughout the year, he repeatedly criticized the president’s policies, rhetoric and character on his ABC show.

This rivalry intensified after Kimmel’s monologue after Kirk’s assassination, when he accused the “MAGA gang” of trying to exploit the murder for political purposes and compared Trump’s grief to that of a “four-year-old crying over a goldfish.”

Disney-owned ABC temporarily took Kimmel off the air, while FCC Chairman Brendan Carr warned the network that its license could be in jeopardy.

Trump then suggested that networks that gave him only negative coverage might deserve to lose their license.

The suspension sparked protests and widespread criticism, with Hollywood figures rallying around Kimmel.

More than 400 stars, including Olivia Rodrigo, signed an open letter from the ACLU condemning Disney’s decision.